Weighing scale



1,685,790 E. G. THOMASV WEIGHING SCALE Filed sept. 15, 1924 f p Ilm nlnlnmgllllll l N ul l I Mvynzum L,

3mm/tt EDWARD G. Diam@ Patented Oct. `2, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,685,190 PATENT OFFICE;

EDwAnDc. THOMAS, or TOLEDO, OHIO, AssrGNOaTO TOLEDO scALE COMPANY, or TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

. WEIGHING SCALE?,

Application led September 13, 1924. Serial No. l737,598.

eating chart having a plurality of sets of optically dissimilar characters of different values, and means for selecting one of said sets as occasion requires.

Another object is the provision of means for increasing the indicating capacity of charts such as are employed in automaticyscales ofthe cylinder type.

Still another object is the provision of means whereby the indicatin capacity of a chart may be increased wit out involving manual adjustments of the scale.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followin description, 1n which reference is had to he accompanying drawin 's illustrating a preferred embodiment o my invention and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure I is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a weighing scale known as the cylinder type;

Figure II is a detail view of a prism comprising one element of my invention;

Figure III is a diagram of a portion of the chart showing the positions of the characters and graduations; f

Figure IV is a representation of the appearance of a portion of the chart as viewed without a screen; and

Figure V represents the appearance of the portion of the chart shown 1n Figure IV as viewed through screens of different colors.

It is to be understood that the scale shown in the drawings and described herein is merely an exemplary embodiment' of my invention, which is also adapted for embodiment in scales having other types of indicating charts and other types of load-offsetting mechanism.A

The scale embodying my invention comprises a base 1 upon one end of which is supported an upright housing 2 oi substantially watch-case shape surmounted by a cylindribase horn 4 which forms a ulcrum stand for v the main 'lever 5 of the scale. This lever supy ports a platter or commodit -receiver 6 and is connected, as at 7, to the p unger of a dash pot which serves to damp the vibration of the weighing mechanism. A load-offsetting pendulum 9 is pivotally supported within the casing 2 and is operatively connected to the nose 8 of the lever 5. The nose end 8 of the lever is also connected to an upwardly extending rod V11, the upper portion terminating in a toothed rack 12 meshing with a pinion (not shown fixed to the axial shaft 13 of the cylindrical chart 14. Located within the casing 3 in position to illuminate the chart is a plurality of electric lamps 16 which are controlled by a switch (not shown) which is normally held open by the pendulum. y v

Whenaload is placed upon the plat-ter 6, the lever 5 is forced' downwardly; the nose 8 being connected to the pendulum, the pendulum is swung upwardlyto a position offsetting the load. Simultaneous with the movement of the lever and pendulum, the

l rack rod 11 is moved downwardly, thereby rotatin the chart 14 to display a weight indicationt irough a window 17 in the rear side of the casing 3 andto display weight and value indications through a window 19 in the lfront side of the casing 3. In order that the weights and values on the chart may be accurately read, the chart is dividedinto columns and each column is suitably graduated by means of horizontal lines to be brought by rotation of the chart into proximate registration with hair line indicating wires 20 and 21 stretched horizontally between the cylindrical chart 14 and the windows 17 and 19. The graduations are marked with appropriate numerals designating the weights and values indicated when the respective graduations are brought into registration with the reading wires.

For the purpose of increasing the range of the chart, I print thereon two sets of characters of dierent colors, for example, green and red, and provide means whereby each set of characters may beselectively visible to the operator Without manipulation of mechanism, such means preferably being in the forms of colored screens so arranged that the chart maybe viewed through them. To this end IV have therefore constructed the glazed portions 17 and 19 in the form of price range of one cent to thirtyprisms having cross sections substantially of the form of an isosceles triangle, two ofthe faces or planes of the prisms bearing sheets of transparent material 24 and 25, such as glass or celluloid, of contrasting colors, as green and red respectively, corresponding to the colors ofthe characters on the'cliart. If a person views the characters on the chart through the green color screen 24 fixed to the prism, the green component of light reflected rom the unprinted portion of the chart surface and the green light from the reen characters pass through the screen, su stantially all other light reflected from the chart surface being absorbed. Since there is no observable difference in color between the uni printed portion of the chart and the green characters as viewed through the green screen, the green characters are indistinguishable. Since only red light is reflected from the red characters on the chart, none of the light from these characters passes throu h the green screen. The red characters, t erefore, appear when viewed throu h the green screen to be black on/,a green bac ground, as indicated at A in Figure V.

f the same portion of the chart is viewed through the red screen(7 which screen only transmits the red component of light from the unprinted portion of the chart surface, as well as the red light from the characters printed in red, the unprinted portion of the surface and the redcharacters will appear the same color. The red characters will, therefore, be indistin ishable, but the green characters appear tolel black on a red background, as indicated at B in Figure V.

It is wellknown to anyone skilledin the art that the number of pricesper pound which may be placed upon the chart is comparatively small and the columns must be of sufiicient width to be easily readable at a. reasonable distance from the chart. With the arrangement as hereinbefore described, it is possible to double the range of prices per pound and the corresponding values for the various weights within the capacity of the scale. This is accomplished by rinting a double set of characters on a price ar corresponding to the two complete ranges of prices per pound, such, for example, as a ve cents and another ran e from thirty-six cents to seventy cents. en viewed -through one color screen or filter the rices per pound of one price range are visib e and when viewed through the other color screen the corresponding 1price range is visible.

From t e foregoing description it will be apparent that a change in the price range may easily be accomplished by simpl viewa in the graduations on the chart t rou h eit er of the color -filter screens from su stantially the same position of observation.

The embodiment of my invention herein different colored characters,

shown and described is to be regarded as illustrative only, and it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my in`vention, I claim l. In a weighing scale, in combination,

Acharacters of different color characteristics and of unlike values, a plurality of fixed color filter screens for selectively rendering said sets of characters legible, and vmeans whereby the same points on the chart are visible through either screen.

3. In a weighing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a chart co-operatmg therewith and having graduations anda pluralty of characters of dili'erent color characteristics giving to said graduations unlike values, means including a pair of fixed color filters for rendering said graduations and selectively rendering one of said sets of characters readable,and means whereby the same points on the chart are visible through either screen from substantially the same position of observation.

4. In a weighing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a chart co-operatin therewith and having black graduations an two different colored sets of characters givin to said graduations unlike values, a pair o different colored fixed transparent screens for selectively rendering the sets of characters readable, and means whereby the same points on the chart are visible through either screen from substantially the same position of observation.

5.. In a weighing scale, in combination, weighin mechanism, a chart co-o eratin therewit and having a plurality o sets o characters of different color characteristics, and a prism having a plurality of transparent color lter portions of different color characteristics adjacent said chart and cooperating therewith for selectively rendering said sets of characters legible.

6. In' a weighing scale, in\combination, weighing mechanism, a chart co-o ratin therewith and having a` plurality o sets o a prism adjacent said chart, and a plurality of color filter screens of different color characteristics adjacent certain faces of the prism for selectively viewing each of said sets of characters from the same side of the scale.

` 7. In a weighing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a chartV co-operating,r therewith and having black raduatlons and two diierent colored sets of c aracters giving 5 to said graduations unlike values, and a Prism adjacent said chart having a plurality. of

color filter screensv co-operating therewith ywhereby said sets of characters are selectively `rendered legible when said chart is viewed 10 through the various color screens.

8. In a weighing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a chart co-o erating therewith and having'a series of blac graduations and a plurality of different colored sets of characters giving to said graduations unlike valucs, a prism adjacent said chart, and a plurality of color filter screens of different color characteristics adjacent certain faces of said prism.

` EDWARD G. THOMAS. 

